Abstract: Individual sheets of paper currency or bills are conveyed in line in a path from a receiving inlet slot through a verification station and outputting verified currency through a storage slot. The verification station senses the value and authenticity of the currency and converts the value into a signal and thereafter moves the paper currency to the storage station where they are securely stacked one on top of the other.

Abstract: A coin collection apparatus for use with a coin validity testing device. The apparatus includes an electromagnetically actuated accept flap located downstream of the testing device which accept flap is pivotally supported to rotate about a horizontal axis to direct coins to a reject channel or an accept channel in response to signals delivered by the testing device. The accept flap is biased by a spring to the reject position. The apparatus further includes a first sensor located downstream of the accept flap and a second sensor located downstream of the first sensor and a processor to which the signals of the testing device and the sensors are supplied.

Abstract: A coin acceptor mechanism (10) for recognizing the valid input of a coin (18) into a coin operated device wherein the mechanism (10) includes a sensor (28) which produces an electrical signal (30) indicative of the sensed presence or absence of a coin. A microprocessor (14) generates a periodic pulsed signal (46) and during a predetermined time period counts the number of pulses generated while the sensor output signal (30) indicates that a coin is present. Upon expiration of the predetermined time period, and once the sensor output signal (30) indicates the absence of a coin, pulses generated thereafter are counted. Once this count exceeds a predetermined value, a valid input is indicated if the first count also exceeded a predefined number.

Abstract: A security device for a bill changer that greatly reduces the risk of the coinage within the changer from being robbed. The security device includes a support having a bill insertion slot therethrough. The support is adapted to be securely attached to a front surface of a bill reader with the insertion slot aligned with a corresponding slot of the bill reader. A moveable blade is mounted on the support and detaches foreign objects extending from an inserted bill. An actuator member, preferably comprising two solenoids, is connected to the blade for moving the blade across the insertion slot in response to validation of an inserted bill by the bill reader to detach any foreign objects therefrom.

Abstract: A coin detection and identifying apparatus and method, utilizes three closely aligned electric coils. The center coil is actively driven by an alternating current to generate a magnetic field that surrounds the center coil. The two outer coils are symmetrically disposed within the magnetic field generated by the center coil, and voltages are induced across the terminals of the outer coils which are indicative of the relative field strengths of the magnetic fields within the outer coils. A sample coin and test coin are interposed between the center coil and each of the outer coils, the coins operative to attenuate the surrounding magnetic fields. A controller compares the voltages across the terminals of the two outer coils to effectively compare the likeness of the sample and test coins. A coin sensing apparatus, located downstream of the coils, provides a plurality of optic emitter-detector pairs to detect the valid passage of a coin.

Abstract: A security device for a bill changer that greatly reduces the risk of the coinage within the changer from being robbed. The security device includes a support having a bill insertion slot therethrough. The support is adapted to be securely attached to a front surface of a bill reader with the insertion slot aligned with a corresponding slot of the bill reader. A moveable blade is mounted on the support and detaches foreign objects extending from an inserted bill. An actuator member, preferably comprising two solenoids, is connected to the blade for moving the blade across the insertion slot in response to validation of an inserted bill by the bill reader to detach any foreign objects therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying a paper currency. Before the front end of the currency is detected by optical sensors, the output signal (DATA1) from the optical sensors is stored in a first storage device. When the rear end of the currency subsequently passes across the sensors and the currency is no longer detected by the sensors, the output signal (DATA3) from the sensors is stored in a second storage device. If any currency-withdrawing device such as cord or tape is not attached to the currency, the DATA1 is equal to the DATA3 because these two kinds of data indicate the state in which nothing is present in the currency conveyance passageway. If such a currency-withdrawing device is attached to the currency, light from light-emitting devices is blocked or reflected by the cord or tape, thus varying the DATA3. However, the DATA1 is not affected. As a result, the DATA1 becomes unequal to the DATA3.

Abstract: A mechanism prevents explosion damage to coin pay telephones by providing an almost horizontal offset in the coin path so that a wad of paper cannot be moved by the weight of subsequently inserted coins. For existing phones, a retrofit provides a horizontal offset by locating a horizontal slot to one side of the existing coin chute entrance and having in back of it a relatively horizontal slippery surface for sliding the coin sideways and then downwards into a tunnel in alignment with the existing coin chute. The tunnel has a sloping bottom surface so that the coin rolls therein under the force of gravity into the existing coin chute. In another embodiment, the horizontal slot is further arranged perpendicular to the existing slot and the relatively horizontal slippery surface slides the coin back towards the horizontal slot and then downwards into the tunnel with a bottom sloping surface operative to roll the coin into the existing coin chute.

Abstract: A coin acceptor comprises a main plate and a side plate which together define a coin path for allowing the passage of coins therebetween. A slot is positioned between the main plate and the side plate for catching any strings that may be attached to coins. Barbs are provided inside the slot for retaining the strings. The width of the slot is smaller than the thickness of the smallest coin and is so arranged that, when a string attached to a coin is tightened, the string is moved into the slot. An acceptance and a rejection channel are positioned downstream from the coin path. The acceptance channel has an additional slot for catching strings. First and second coin sensors are positioned adjacent the acceptance channel. If the first sensor detects the presence of a coin after the second sensor has already detected the same coin, then it is likely that a string is being used to manipulate the coin acceptor and the generation of a credit signal is disabled.

Abstract: After passing in a deformed shape through bending device 28 provided between validator 24 and stacker 25, a bill 23 recovers its initial flat shape due to its own elasticity and provides a face which intersects blocking edges 31. After the bill 23 passes through the bending device 28, although a string attached to the bill 23 is extracted, it is impossible to return the bill to the passageway 27 to prevent any unauthorized extraction of the bill 23.

Abstract: A coin validator has a sensing arrangement disposed after an accept gate for detecting when a valid coin has moved past, and thus causing the triggering of the accumulation of credit. The sensing arrangement comprises a flap which is moved away from its normal position by the coin. If the coin is suspended on a string, the flap cannot move back to its normal position and therefore no credit is accumulated.

Abstract: A paper money recognition and transmission system including a housing with a paper money slot, an upper mainframe and a lower mainframe detachably connected together and mounted inside the housing, a transmission unit mounted on the lower mainframe and consisting of a step motor, a belt transmission mechanism, a gear transmission mechanism, a plurality of caps, and two rubber rollers, a paper money recognition circuit, the paper money recognition circuit including sensors controlled to detect and recognize inserted paper money and to turn the step motor forwards, when a true paper money is recognized, causing the inserted paper money to be delivered forwards, the step motor being turned reversely when a counterfeit paper money is detected, causing the counterfeit paper money to be delivered backwards out of the system.

Abstract: A coin validator (10) has a coin path (26) which passes between one set of detect coils (40, 42). The set of coils (40, 42) is connected in a detect circuit, and the coils (40, 42) are adapted to be energized with a single pulse. The decay curve (70) of the voltage in the coils (40, 42) is processed to produce a set of three numbers of clock counts defining each coin, which are stored in a microprocessor. Preprogramming of the validator (10) involves generating sets of numbers for representatives of a coin type to create three ranges of numbers, within which respective range a subsequent coin's set of numbers must fall in order for it to be defined as an example of the coin type. The coin path (26) is arranged at an angle to the vertical, and the base (32) is arranged at an angle to the horizontal such that the angle between one wall (36) and the base (32) is between 90.degree. and 180.degree.

Abstract: A paper money recognition and transmission system including a housing with a paper money slot, an upper mainframe and a lower mainframe detachably connected together and mounted inside the housing, a transmission unit mounted on the lower mainframe and consisting of a step motor, a belt transmission mechanism, a gear transmission mechanism, a plurality of caps, and two rubber rollers, a paper money recognition circuit, the paper money recognition circuit including sensors controlled to detect and recognize inserted paper money and to turn the step motor forwards, when a true paper money is recognized, causing the inserted paper money to be delivered forwards, the step motor being turned reversely when a counterfeit paper money is detected, causing the counterfeit paper money to be delivered backwards out of the system, the lower mainframe having a convex portion matched with paper money transmission rubber rollers to prevent inserted paper money from being pulled backwards.

Abstract: A paper currency discriminating device which is improved to prevent the illegal extraction of paper currency more reliably. An impeller 10 associated in the rotating direction of timing belts 14 for transferring the paper currency is so disposed at the exit of a paper currency transfer passage 6 as to protrude upward over the paper currency transfer face of an upper transfer plate 3. Moreover, the impeller 10 at the time of introducing the paper currency is inhibited from backward rotation to prevent any illegal extraction of the paper currency once introduced. At the same time, a decision signal is outputted after it is detected by a passage detection sensor P3 that the trailing end of the paper currency being transferred reaches the impeller 10 over an extraction preventing lever 33. As a result, it is possible to prevent the illegal use of the paper currency by the extraction which is done before the end of the introduction.

Abstract: A coin guiding device comprises a surface disposed normally in use in the path of a coin, and inclined downwardly toward one side of the path to cause coins which have engaged the surface to tend to move toward that side. The surface is moveable under the weight of the coin in a direction out of the plane of the coin to permit the coin to pass, and is so arranged that the effective leverage caused by the coin increases as the coin moves toward the side of the path.

Abstract: A drop coin mechanism for use with a coin authentication and counting apparatus prevents tampering with such apparatus and includes a faceplate defining an aperture therethrough for passage of a coin, the faceplate aperture being substantially completely offset from an entrance into the coin authenticating and counting apparatus. A slidable chamber enables moving the coin from a coin-receiving position to a coin-discharging position, the coin in the coin-receiving position being generally aligned with the faceplate aperture and substantially completely offset from the entrance to the coin authenticating and counting apparatus, the coin in the coin-discharging position being substantially completely offset from the faceplate aperture and generally aligned with the entrance to the coin authenticating and counting apparatus. Accordingly, no tool for tampering with the coin authenticating and counting apparatus can be inserted into the entrance thereof through the faceplate aperture.

Abstract: For detecting a foreign body, as, for instance, a thread (3) or a wire in a coin channel (10) or for the recognition of the edge outline of coins moving along the guide channel, a photoelectric detector (1, 2) monitors the coin channel (10) (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A coin validator is provided in the region of its entrance hopper with a flap which is caused to pivot against the action of a spring when a coin is inserted in the hopper. In the case of fraudulent use of the coin validator wherein a thread is attached to a coin, the movement of the flap into the closed position following passage of the coin causes a tension to be applied in the trailing thread, and the thread under tension is then sensed by a lever mechanism. Actuation of the lever mechanism by the tensioned thread inhibits validation of the attached coin, e.g. by causing any credit added by the passage of the coin past a testing station to be debited before returning the coin to the user.

Abstract: A casing of a stacker is provided with an opening and a chamber for disposing a pusher within the casing adjacent to the opening so that the pusher can be removably attached within the stacker. Also provided in the pusher is a slit-shaped inlet connected with an exit of a passageway within a transporter. By removing the pusher from the stacker and attaching same to another stacker having its compartment of different capacity, bill storing capacity may easily be changed. In malfunction of the pusher, it may easily be exchanged with new one for easy maintenance.

Abstract: A change return protection device is disclosed which prevents thieves from stuffing flexible material into the change return chutes of coin-operated machines. The device prevents stuffing of the change return chute when the change return door is opened by incorporating a blocking flap and a swinging flap around which the flexible material cannot be inserted. The device also includes a reinforcement plate which more securely joins the blocking flap to the change return door and a flat plate having V-shaped notch with sharpened edges which further prevents stuffing. Finally, the device includes an adjustable screw which restricts the size of the coin return door opening. The device is suitable for use in existing change return mechanisms.

Abstract: An antiretrieval device for a currency validator of the slot acceptor type. A set of teeth is interposed between the cash box and the note path and in operative engagement with a punch plate. The punch plate and teeth define a shear to cut any string or tape which might be attached to a piece of currency tendered for validation. The teeth are maintained at the end of a spring-biased portion of a plate which is clamped and otherwise secured to a portion of the housing of the currency validator.

Abstract: A bill validator for evaluating paper articles includes a bill guide for receiving the paper articles. A bill protector validates the received articles corresponding to genuine currency and rejects all other articles. A sensor measures a portion of the article which passes a predetermined position of the bill guide during receiving by the bill guide and further measures the portion of the article and any other articles which pass the predetermined position during rejection. The bill validator is disabled for a predetermined period of time if the measurement of the portion of the article during receiving differs from the measurement taken during rejection. As a result, the bill validator is disabled in the event that a user attempts to remove an article with a rejected article causing the measurement of the received article to differ from the measurement taken during rejection.

Abstract: A paper currency acceptor is provided having an antifraud device comprising a linear actuator having an armature selectively moveable between two positions along its longitudinal axis, the actuator being mounted so that the longitudinal axis of the armature is oriented perpendicularly to the planar surface of the currency passageway. An elongated stop comb is mounted directly to the end of the armature nearest the passageway, the stop comb having a plurality of elongated parallel tines extending therefrom perpendicularly toward the planar surface of the passageway. The tines of the comb are arranged in at least one row along the longitudinal axis of the comb, and the longitudinal axis of the comb is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the passageway. The planar members defining the passageway each have an aperture aligned with the longitudinal axis of each tine.

Abstract: A coin selector includes a horizontal coin conveying unit for forcibly conveying a coin inserted through a coin insert slit in the horizontal direction while the coin is held between an opposing pair of endless belts. The horizontal coin conveying unit is slidably arranged in a housing of the coin selector, and moreover, the space defined by the opposing pair of endless belts is enlarged by turnably opening the opposing pair of endless belt about their one end. The upstream side of the horizontal coin conveying unit is covered with a cover, and a liquid collecting portion is attached to the cover so as to allow a liquid received through the coin insert slit to be quickly discharged outside of the coin selector.

Abstract: A coin processing apparatus arranged to automatically execute a cancellation process for canceling acceptance of an inserted coin by detecting, on the basis of output levels of receiving coils in a plurality of sets of coin selecting coils disposed on a coin path, a fact that the inserted coin has been guided into a return path through the operation of a return lever, and also to judge the occurrence of coin jamming and coin counter-flow on the basis of the output levels of the receiving coils. The output level of the receiving coil in each of the plurality of sets of coin selecting coils is monitored so as to carry out the automatic cancellation process in case the output levels of the respective receiving coils concurrently exceed a predetermined threshold level and persist longer than a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a bill from being pulled out. The apparatus includes a hang preventing mechanism which has a tongue for preventing a bill from hanging from a bill accumulating box into a bill passage. The bill is conveyed through the bill passage to the bill accumulating box. The hang preventing mechanism is pivotally supported and is spring biased by a biasing mechanism for holding the tongue to prevent a bill, received in the bill accumulating box, from hanging from the bill accumulating box while the tongue is allowed to turn by a bill which passes through the bill passage for entering the bill accumulating box.

Abstract: A coin selector includes a single coin passage and a single coin rolling-down passage. The coin passage is equipped with a coin discriminating mechanism so as to discriminate whether a coin inserted through a coin insert slit is a true coin or a false coin, and moreover, discriminate the kind of the coin which has been recognized as a true coin. On the other hand, the coin rolling-down passage is equipped with a coin distributing mechanism so as to selectively distribute the true coin conveyed from the coin passage depending on the kind of each coin. Conculsively, the coin selector is contructed in a very compact configuration.

Abstract: A coin handling mechanism for vending machines has a coin validation sensor, a coin accepting gate, a plurality of coin distributing gates and a cutter for cutting a string which is suspending a deposited coin. When a coin suspended by a string is deposited in a coin inlet of the mechanism, the string is caught by the coin accepting gate before the coin reaches the coin distributing gates. When the string is then pulled towards the coin inlet in an attempt to remove the coin, the string is cut by the cutter. The coin with the cut string portion attached thereto then falls down in the machine. In this situation the coin distributing gates are automatically oriented to form a coin path communicating with a cash box therebelow. The coin with the cut string thus falls to the cash box, thereby preventing it from being paid or given to a customer.

Abstract: By combining a number of different types of coin sensors including a reflective sensor, a capacitive sensor and inductive sensors together with a logic circuit it is possible to provide for highly accurate and flexible discrimination between authorized and unauthorized coins or tokens. Fexibility is further enhanced by a self teaching feature where a microprocessor is used to iteratively adjust upper and lower value limits in the sensor circuits in response to the insertion of a limited number of sample coins.

Abstract: A pay telephone station having a lower housing coin chute (14) which is provided with a coin fraud prevention unit (10) in the form of a thin base (15) arranged in a slot (11) of a coin channel cover plate (12). The base (15) is provided with a pawl (23) having a tooth (24) with a chamfered face ( b 25) which is biased into the path of a coin passing through a coin path (39) by a torsion spring (26). An anchor (59) for connecting a handset (56) to the upper housing coin dial unit (50) of the station includes a base with apertures (63, 64) and a V-shaped body (65) with a notch 66 defined between surfaces (69, 70). A long thumbscrew member (74) with a textured gripping surface connects the anchor (59) to a projector (51) integral with the upper housing (50). The handset cord assembly (A) is first passed through an aperture (54) in the projection (51) and then through the aperture (64) in the base (60).

Abstract: A pay telephone station having a lower housing coin chute (14) which is provided with a coin fraud prevention unit (10) in the form of a thin base (15) arranged in a slot (11) of a coin channel cover plate (12). The base (15) is provided with a pawl (23) having a tooth (24) with a chamfered face (25) which is biased into the path of a coin passing through a coin path (39) by a torsion spring (26). An anchor (59) for connecting a handset (56) to the upper housing coin dial unit (50) of the station includes a base with apertures (63, 64) and a V-shaped body (65) with a notch 66 defined between surfaces (69, 70). A long thumbscrew member (74) with a textured gripping surface connects the anchor (59) to a projector (51) integral with the upper housing (50). The handset cord assembly (A) is first passed through an aperture ( 54) in the projection (51) and then through the aperture (64) in the base (60).

Abstract: A plurality of plate members are provided to be aligned with each other in order to define a plurality of coin paths in units of denominations which are aligned with each other and capable of communicating with a common path along which all inserted coins pass. Selectors are provided at a position immediately upstream from two successive aligned coin paths. Each selector is driven by a solenoid operative in accordance with a detection result from a coil for detecting denominations of coins. An inserted coin is directed to a corresponding coin path by the selector.

Abstract: A bucket type coin accumulation apparatus includes a collection plate, a return plate, locking members, weights, and photodetectors. The collection and return plates constitute a bottom portion of a coin accumulation bucket and cooperate to randomly accumulate coins in the coin accumulation bucket. The locking members independently lock the collection and return plates when a coin is inserted. The weights independently urge the collection plate and the return plate in a counter-gravity direction by a biasing force smaller than the weight of one coin. The photodetectors detect whether the collection and return plates are located at home positions where the collection and return plates are biased by the weights. One of the collection and return plates is released by the weight of the accumulated coin upon selective unlocking of the locking members, and the presence/absence of coin accumulation is discriminated by an output from the photodetectors.

Abstract: A coin control system for determining whether proper coinage has been inserted to start a coin operated device. The coin in vertical orientation falls onto an inclined ramp, down which it rolls past a mechanism which detects magnetic materials. The coin rolls past a photocell which projects a beam positioned to be interrupted by only the upper limb or arc of the rolling coin. The ramp is mounted between closely spaced side plates and may be vertically adjusted between them with respect to the photocell so that it can be set for coins of different sizes. The coin control mechanism and a coin collection box are each separately lockable within a housing and are both further protected by a specially removable, lockable cover.

Abstract: A coin handling apparatus contains a standard reference coin and a coin validation circuit that compares an inserted coin or slug with the reference coin as it passes through a chute toward a coin gate. The coin gate deflects the coin into a first path if the inserted coin is undersized and otherwise into a second path. The validation circuit produces a "valid coin" signal that indicates a match between the inserted coin and the reference coin, a "coin present" signal if any coin is being compared with the reference coin, and a photodetector output signal, all of which are applied as inputs to a surveillance circuit that analyzes those three signals and generates an output indicative of whether the inserted coin is being "strung", an output indicative of whether the inserted coin is a slug, and an "alert" signal that indicates whether either the coin is being strung or the inserted coin is a slug.

Abstract: A coin discrimination member and a coin selection member are mounted on one of two plates defining a coin path. Counterfeit coins are removed from the coin path between the two plates at an upstream portion thereof in response to a discrimination signal from an electronic discrimination unit. Thereafter, the authentic coins are discriminated and sorted by the coin discrimination member and the coin selection member. One plate is detachably pivoted about the other plate.